Grapefruiting: Myers’ Hot Start Reveals Possible Rebirth

While Adam Eaton was continuing to prove us doubters wrong with a strong outing in a 3-2 win, I got to see our Opening Day starter â€” Brett Myers â€” take the mound against the AAA-level Toronto Blue Jays in a Minor League game. Myers and Jayson Werth paired with AAA Lehigh Valley. (I’ll have more on a slumping Werth later.)

Myers was brilliant through six innings, using his curveball well and painting his fastball. Toronto didn’t score as Myers gave up (about) three hits and a walk. Then, in the seventh, he unraveled, giving up three runs while becoming more and more unfocused and frustrated. It’s no big deal â€” it seems Myers just wanted to get his day finished without any damage, and a few clean hits and long at bats rattled him. Let me say this â€” for what I saw, Myers looks ready to be the man this year.

Clearly his spring stats show outstanding play (11 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K), but there’s something to be said about his makeup. Before we knew Myers as the wife-beater and the bully; this year he’s turned into somewhat of a leader. I keep going back to the Kyle Kendrick prank as a turning point â€” the man who bitched out a reporter last season was now working with the media to pie-face a teammate. Sure it’s small potatoes, but you can’t help but admire Myers’ efforts toward responsibility. If it factors into gameplay is another thing; for now, you have to be happy with how Myers has performed both as a starter and as a teammate.